"RCB have never lost on 18th May" - Aakash Chopra on Faf du Plessis and Co.'s IPL 2024 clash vs CSK

Aakash Chopra has noted that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have enjoyed a successful run in all games they have played on May 18 heading into Saturday's IPL 2024 clash against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Bengaluru. However, he acknowledged that rain could spoil their party this time.

With 12 points from 13 games, RCB are seventh on the points table. A win with a good enough margin on Saturday will help them pip CSK to the final playoff berth based on net run rate.

Previewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra pointed out that May 18 has been an auspicious date for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru thus far. However, he acknowledged that the hosts might be worried about a no-result due to rain.

"It started from here only and we have reached there again. Chennai were on one side and RCB were in front of them. Chennai won that game, that was the 23rd of March but now we have reached the 18th of May. RCB have never lost on 18th May," he said (0:01).

"In all the matches Virat Kohli has played on 18th May, he has scored runs, which includes two centuries and a half-century. His jersey number is 18. This is going to be a humdinger. However, there are chances of rain. The longer the match, the brighter the chances for RCB. The shorter the match gets, the qualification will become more difficult," the former India opener added.

RCB will get knocked out of the tournament if Saturday's game doesn't yield a result. CSK will join the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the playoffs in such a scenario.

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"It's 18th May and Virat Kohli is having a cosmic connection with that date" - Aakash Chopra on RCB players in focus

Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Aakash Chopra chose Virat Kohli as the first Royal Challengers Bengaluru player to watch out for in Saturday's game.

"It's 18th May and Virat Kohli is having a cosmic connection with that date. He has scored runs whenever he has played on 18th May. I am focusing on Virat Kohli as my first player to watch out for because when matters are big, Virat is seen standing there. He automatically reaches there," he reasoned (4:30).

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckons Glenn Maxwell will be a crucial player for the hosts.

"Since Will Jacks is not there now, Glenn Maxwell will have to come. The shorter the match, the bigger will be his role. He is a player who can hit sixes consistently, a player who can turn the game. He has won his team (Australia) a match even while standing on one leg. He hasn't done anything thus far. This has to be his game," Chopra explained.

Chopra picked Cameron Green as the third RCB player in focus against CSK.

"The third player I am thinking is Cameron Green. He will have to bowl one over at least, or two overs if it's a 10-over game. He will also have to hit a lot of sixes because you need that margin. So Faf (du Plessis) at the start, Cameron Green later, and Rajat Patidar in the middle, and you will hope to reach where you want to reach," he elaborated.

While Kohli has amassed 661 runs in 13 innings in IPL 2024, Maxwell has managed a paltry 36 runs in seven hits. Green has aggregated 190 runs in 10 knocks and has picked up eight wickets in 29.1 overs this season.